We care about your data, and we'd like to use cookies to give you a smooth browsing experience. Please agree and read more about our privacy policy.
Quanta Homepage
  • Physics
  • Mathematics
  • Biology
  • Computer Science
  • Topics
  • Archive
Kevin Hartnett

Kevin Hartnett

Contributing Writer

Twitter

Latest Articles

foundations of mathematics

With Category Theory, Mathematics Escapes From Equality

By Kevin Hartnett
October 10, 2019
Comment
Read Later

Two monumental works have led many mathematicians to avoid the equal sign. The process has not always gone smoothly.

Colored spheres arranged in pairs.
prime numbers

Big Question About Primes Proved in Small Number Systems

By Kevin Hartnett
September 26, 2019
Comment
Read Later

The twin primes conjecture is one of the most important and difficult questions in mathematics. Two mathematicians have solved a parallel version of the problem for small number systems.

Abstractions blog

Computers and Humans ‘See’ Differently. Does It Matter?

By Kevin Hartnett
September 17, 2019
Comment
Read Later

In some ways, machine vision is superior to human vision. In other ways, it may never catch up.

An illustration of eyeballs connected to many hands painting the Mona Lisa.
mathematical biology

A Mathematical Model Unlocks the Secrets of Vision

By Kevin Hartnett
August 21, 2019
Comment
Read Later

Mathematicians and neuroscientists have created the first anatomically accurate model that explains how vision is possible.

A dartboard with pi at its center.
number theory

New Proof Settles How to Approximate Numbers Like Pi

By Kevin Hartnett
August 14, 2019
Comment
Read Later

The ancient Greeks wondered when “irrational” numbers can be approximated by fractions. By proving the longstanding Duffin-Schaeffer conjecture, two mathematicians have provided a complete answer.

Abstractions blog

Quantum Supremacy Is Coming: Here’s What You Should Know

By Kevin Hartnett
July 18, 2019
Comment
Read Later

Researchers are getting close to building a quantum computer that can perform tasks a classical computer can’t. Here’s what the milestone will mean.

Abstractions blog

How Randomness Can Make Math Easier

By Kevin Hartnett
July 9, 2019
Comment
Read Later

Randomness would seem to make a mathematical statement harder to prove. In fact, it often does the opposite.

geometry

Random Surfaces Hide an Intricate Order

By Kevin Hartnett
July 2, 2019
Comment
Read Later

Mathematicians have proved that a random process applied to a random surface will yield consistent patterns.

Photo of a silver metal plate with chips mounted on its surface.
Abstractions blog

A New Law to Describe Quantum Computing’s Rise?

By Kevin Hartnett
June 18, 2019
Comment
Read Later

Neven’s law states that quantum computers are improving at a “doubly exponential” rate. If it holds, quantum supremacy is around the corner.


Previous
  • 1
  • ...
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • ...
  • 17
Next
The Quanta Newsletter

Get highlights of the most important news delivered to your email inbox

Recent newsletters
Quanta Homepage
Facebook
Twitter
Youtube
Instagram

  • About Quanta
  • Archive
  • Contact Us
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Simons Foundation
All Rights Reserved © 2023